Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania endorses Vera Cole

[Sellersville, PA] – Today, Conservation Voters of PA
endorsed Vera Cole for State Representative.
CVPA represents thousands of individuals in the Commonwealth committed
to a cleaner environment and prepared to vote for pro-environment candidates.

“Our environment is at a tipping point, and it’s more
important than ever that we combat the damage being done to our air and water,”
said Josh McNeil, Executive Director of CVPA. “Unfortunately, rather than
protecting our environment, the current legislature of Pennsylvania has been
doing the bidding of polluting industries and trying to dismantle key
protections for our air and water.

Representative Craig Staats has repeatedly voted against
protecting our air, water, and land—earning him a dismal 9% on our 2015-2016
Pennsylvania Environmental Scorecard. His anti-environmental votes included
holding the state budget hostage for months fighting against environmental protections
and voting to delay and weaken the crucial Clean Power Plan. Rep. Staats has
consistently put the interests of polluters above the interests of her
constituents.

“It is time for a change, for a candidate who puts the
interests of their constituents ahead of the interests of oil and gas
companies.” Said McNeil. “Vera Cole offers the change we need to stand up for
our environment.”

Dr. Cole said of the endorsement, “We must make it
absolutely clear that the safety of Pennsylvania’s water, air and climate is
not for sale. These are non-negotiable life-sustaining necessities. Keeping
them safe, clean and reliable is of utmost priority to the families and economy
of Pennsylvania.”

Article 1, Section 27 of Pennsylvania’s constitution states
that: “The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the
preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the
environment. Pennsylvania’s public natural resources are the common property of
all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these
resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of
all the people.”

“If Pennsylvania elects more environmental champions like
Vera, we can begin to finally live up to the ideals of our constitution.”

Information about Vera can be found at
www.veracoleforpa.com.

Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania is an organization
dedicated to protecting the environment by passing better environmental laws
and electing candidates committed to a cleaner, safer Keystone State. CVPA was
founded in 2009 and built on the successful model of the national League of
Conservation Voters and its affiliates in 33 states.